- Apr 24, 2026
- 11
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- Awards
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- First Name
- Harrison
Hey DealerRefresh community — I want to be upfront about who I am and what I am trying to do rather than just asking vague questions.
My name is Harrison Schneider. I am a young entrepreneur who is genuinely passionate about both cars and AI. I have been interested in the automotive world my whole life and I have been teaching myself AI and automation. I want to build something real that actually helps independent dealers compete more effectively.
LinkedIn Here
What I am researching
I have been spending the past several weeks talking to dealers, reading industry conversations here on DealerRefresh, and trying to understand where independent dealers are losing the most ground. From everything I have heard so far the biggest pain point seems to be inventory — specifically the gap between what independents can access versus what franchise dealers have. Franchises get off lease vehicles, preferred auction relationships, and better flooring terms while independents are left competing for the same retail auction inventory as everyone else.
That structural disadvantage costs independent dealers real money every single month and I think AI can help close that gap.
What I am thinking about building
An all in one AI tool built specifically for independent dealers that integrates invisibly into how they already work. No new logins. No behavior change required from staff. No complicated onboarding.
The core idea is using AI to help dealers make smarter inventory decisions based on real data rather than gut instinct. Something that analyzes what is selling fastest in their specific market, monitors what competitors are stocking and at what price, and surfaces the best buying opportunities before competitors see them. All of it running automatically in the background without the dealer having to change anything about how they operate.
I have learned from people in this community that the tools that fail are the ones that stack too many behavior changes at once. I am building the version that fits around how dealers already work rather than asking them to adapt to new software.
What I am looking for
I am still in active research mode and I need two things right now.
First I am looking for real conversations with independent dealer owners who are willing to share their honest perspective on the inventory challenge and where they feel the biggest pain day to day. Not a sales call. Not a pitch. Just a genuine conversation that helps me build something actually worth using.
Second I am looking for early users. If you are a forward thinking independent dealer who is curious about AI and open to being one of the first to try something built specifically for your operation I would love to connect. I will work with early users completely for free in exchange for honest feedback.
If either of those sounds interesting reply here or send me a direct message.
I am a young entrepreneur with no past products and no resume. What I do have is genuine passion for this industry, real AI skills, and the hunger to build something that actually works for independent dealers rather than just sounding impressive in a demo.
Thanks for reading.
Harrison Schneider
Linkedin Account Here
My name is Harrison Schneider. I am a young entrepreneur who is genuinely passionate about both cars and AI. I have been interested in the automotive world my whole life and I have been teaching myself AI and automation. I want to build something real that actually helps independent dealers compete more effectively.
LinkedIn Here
What I am researching
I have been spending the past several weeks talking to dealers, reading industry conversations here on DealerRefresh, and trying to understand where independent dealers are losing the most ground. From everything I have heard so far the biggest pain point seems to be inventory — specifically the gap between what independents can access versus what franchise dealers have. Franchises get off lease vehicles, preferred auction relationships, and better flooring terms while independents are left competing for the same retail auction inventory as everyone else.
That structural disadvantage costs independent dealers real money every single month and I think AI can help close that gap.
What I am thinking about building
An all in one AI tool built specifically for independent dealers that integrates invisibly into how they already work. No new logins. No behavior change required from staff. No complicated onboarding.
The core idea is using AI to help dealers make smarter inventory decisions based on real data rather than gut instinct. Something that analyzes what is selling fastest in their specific market, monitors what competitors are stocking and at what price, and surfaces the best buying opportunities before competitors see them. All of it running automatically in the background without the dealer having to change anything about how they operate.
I have learned from people in this community that the tools that fail are the ones that stack too many behavior changes at once. I am building the version that fits around how dealers already work rather than asking them to adapt to new software.
What I am looking for
I am still in active research mode and I need two things right now.
First I am looking for real conversations with independent dealer owners who are willing to share their honest perspective on the inventory challenge and where they feel the biggest pain day to day. Not a sales call. Not a pitch. Just a genuine conversation that helps me build something actually worth using.
Second I am looking for early users. If you are a forward thinking independent dealer who is curious about AI and open to being one of the first to try something built specifically for your operation I would love to connect. I will work with early users completely for free in exchange for honest feedback.
If either of those sounds interesting reply here or send me a direct message.
I am a young entrepreneur with no past products and no resume. What I do have is genuine passion for this industry, real AI skills, and the hunger to build something that actually works for independent dealers rather than just sounding impressive in a demo.
Thanks for reading.
Harrison Schneider
Linkedin Account Here
